Cable stripper

ABSTRACT

In general, this invention relates to a device for stripping the outer covering of multi-strand electrical cable; more specifically, it has to do with a device that splits the covering along a given length of cable.

United States Patent Handy [s41 CABLE STRIPPER [72] Inventor: Everett L.Handy, 77 Arizona Avenue, Holden, Mass. 01520 Filed: June 14, 1971 Appl.No.: 153,007

Related US. Application Data Continuation of Ser. No. 792,927, Jan. 22,1969, abandoned.

US. Cl ..30/90.9, 30/90.4 Int. Cl. ..B26b 27/00 Field of Search..30/90.l92.5

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,649,654 8/1953 Carta so/90.9

[ 1 Nov. 21, 1972 2,830,366 4/1958 Chisena ..30/92.sx 1,866,095 7/1932Foley ..30/9o.sx

Primary Examiner-Andrew R. Juhasz Assistant Examiner-Gary L. SmithAttorney-Norman S. Blodgett [57] ABSTRACT In general; this inventionrelates to 'a device for stripping the outer covering of multi-strandelectrical cable; more specifically, it has to do with a device thatsplits the covering along a given length of cable.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENT ED "11721 I972 3.703.035

FIG.4

I NVENTOR.

EVERETT L. HANDY v BY ATTORNEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION To thoseskilled in the art, it has long been recognized that the use of a razorblade or jackknife is a dangerous and inefficient way of stripping theouter covering of multi-strand cable. The craftsman, particularly theelectrician, is constantly concerned with this safety factor and, forthis reason, numerous devices have been designed to lessen this danger.All of these devices, however, seemed to have drawbacks; they eitherfailed to offer safe operation, they were complicated or inefficient inuse, their construction made them commercially impractical with respectto cost or effective life, or they were not suited for variations oftypes of cable. These and other difficulties experienced in the priorart devices have been obviated in a novel manner by the presentinvention.

It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the invention to provide acable stripper which is completely safe under normal conditions.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a cable stripperwhich is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and capableof a long life of useful service with a minimum of maintenance.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a cablestripper which can be placed on and removed from the cable laterallywithout the necessity of threading it through the stripper; this isparticularly important when several feet of cable must be stripped, asis often the case in wiring machine tools.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a cablestripper which is equally effective on both round cable and flat cable,such as Romex.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a cablestripper which works in such a waythat the extent of the split throughthe layers of covering can be sensed, thus permitting the stripping ofonly the desired layer; means is also provided for pre-setting the depthofcut.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cable stripperwhose cutting tool is an easily replaceable razor blade.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a cablestripper whose operation is simple, efficient, and easily learned by anew operator.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cable stripperwhose size and compactness facilitate its availability and storage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cable stripper whosesimplicity and strength make it nearly indestructible during normal use.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of partsset forth in the specification and covered by the claims appendedhereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, the present invention consists of acable stripper having a housing from which protrude two rollers, oneadapted for round cable and one for flat cable, having a blade, andhaving a blade holding arm attached to the housing in such a way thatthe blade can be placed in opposition to either roller and the distancebetween the cutting edge and the roller varied.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The character of the invention,however, may be best understood by reference to one of its structuralforms, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view looking along the length of wire tobe stripped,

FIG. 2 is asectional view taken on the line llIl of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a right elevational view of the invention,

FIG. 4 is a left elevational view of the invention, and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a portion, of the invention taken on theline V-V of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. 1,wherein are best shown the general features of the invention, the cablestripper is shown as having a rectangular tubular or box-like housing 10having open ends. Rotatably mounted and having their peripheriesextending from the said open ends of the housing are two rollers 11 and12. At one end is mounted a spool-like roller 11 with opposing conicalsurfaces adapted to be used with round cable. From the other end extendsa spool-like roller 12 with opposing stepped surfaces, the steps beingpositioned to accommodate a flat cable, such as Romex 12-2 cable on afirst level, No. 6 service cable on a second level, and 1-3 or 3-3 cableon a third level. A guiding channel 13 is mounted on the side of thehousing 10 and carries a slide or cutting head support arm 14. Thisarrangement allows the slide to move up and down in the plane of andperpendicular to the roller axes. Mounted on the cutting head supportarm 14 is a cutting head 15 which consists of a transverse arm 16 whichmay be integral with the support arm, a thumb ring 17, a blade holder18, and a blade 19. The blade holder itself (best shown in FIG. 3)consists of a back plate 20,- a positioning plate 21 attached to theback plate by screws 22, and a blade-tightening screw 23 which goesthrough the positioning plate and engages the blade. The blade itselfrests between the positioning plate and the back plate. The blade holderholds the blade so that it rests and moves in a plane which isperpendicular to and bisects the axes of the rollers. The travel of thesupport arm is regulated by a limiting screw 25 when it contacts the web26.

The use and operation of the invention will now be readily understood,in view of the above description. Let us say that we are given thedevice as set up in FIG. 1 and asked to strip a length of Romex l2-2cable. The limiting screw 25 is removed and the cutting head 15 andsupport arm are pulled out of the guiding channel 13 and replaced in theopposite end of the channel, thereby bringing the head into oppositionwith the stepped roller. The limiting screw is then replaced. The cableis placed tangentially across the center of the stepped roller so thatit rests with its long axis parallel to the roller axis and is heldsecurely by the narrowest groove that will accommodate it. The housingis grasped in the right hand of the user with the guiding channel in thepalm and the cutting head uppermost, so that the thumb can be placed inthe thumb ring 17. The pressure of the thumb then forces the blade intothe covering of the cable and, as the device is pulled along the cable,the covering is split. It is found preferable to begin the operation atthe interior end of the length to be stripped. The procedure forstripping round cable will be evident from the above description.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form andconstruction of the invention without departingfrom the material spiritthereof. It is not, however, desired to confine the invention to theexact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include allsuch as properly come within the scope claimed.

The invention having been thus described, what is claimed as new anddesired to secure by Letters Patent l. A cable stripper, comprising:

a. a housing,

b. a spool-like first roller with facing conical surfaces rotatablymounted in the housing with aportion of its periphery extending from thehousing,

c. a spool-like second roller rotatably mounted in the housing with aportion of its periphery extending from the housing and d. a blademounted on the housing and changeable from a first position inopposition to the first roller to a second position in opposition to thesecond roller, said blade being mounted in a cutting head, said cuttinghead consisting of a blade holder which sets blade angle and isadjustable for cutting depth, a thumb ring, a transverse arm whichlocates the blade over the center line of the roller surface, and acutting head support arm that is slidably mounted on the housing.

2. A cable stripper as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing is arigid, box-like structure with two open ends.

3. A cable stripper as recited in claim 2, wherein the two rollers arerotatably mounted with parallel axes and extend peripherally one fromeach of the open ends of the housing.

4. A cable stripper as recited in claim 3, wherein an injector razorblade is used as the blade.

5. A cable stripper as recited in claim 4, wherein the blade is mountedat an angle so that it presents its cutting edge to the oncomingcovering of the cable.

1. A cable stripper, comprising: a. a housing, b. a spool-like firstroller with facing conical surfaces rotatably mounted in the housingwith a portion of its periphery extending from the housing, c. aspool-like second roller rotatably mounted in the housing with a portionof its periphery extending from the housing and d. a blade mounted onthe housing and changeable from a first position in opposition to thefirst roller to a second position in opposition to the second roller,said blade being mounted in a cutting head, said cutting head consistingof a blade holder which sets blade angle and is adjustable for cuttingdepth, a thumb ring, a transverse arm which locates the blade over thecenter line of the roller surface, and a cutting head support arm thatis slidably mounted on the housing.
 1. A cable stripper, comprising: a.a housing, b. a spool-like first roller with facing conical surfacesrotatably mounted in the housing with a portion of its peripheryextending from the housing, c. a spool-like second roller rotatablymounted in the housing with a portion of its periphery extending fromthe housing and d. a blade mounted on the housing and changeable from afirst position in opposition to the first roller to a second position inopposition to the second roller, said blade being mounted in a cuttinghead, said cutting head consisting of a blade holder which sets bladeangle and is adjustable for cutting depth, a thumb ring, a transversearm which locates the blade over the center line of the roller surface,and a cutting head support arm that is slidably mounted on the housing.2. A cable stripper as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing is arigid, box-like structure with two open ends.
 3. A cable stripper asrecited in claim 2, wherein the two rollers are rotatably mounted withparallel axes and extend peripherally one from each of the open ends ofthe housing.
 4. A cable stripper as recited in claim 3, wherein aninjector razor blade is used as the blade.